532Meanwhile in the seats above Latona's daughter was addressing swift Opis, one of the maiden companions of her sacred band, and sadly uttered these words: 'Camilla is going to cruel war, O maiden, and girds herself in vain with our arms, dear to me beyond others. 537For this love of Diana's is not new, nor has it moved her heart with sudden sweetness. 539When Metabus, driven from his kingdom because of hatred of his proud power, was leaving the ancient city of Privernum, fleeing amid the battles of war he took his infant as companion of his exile and called her Camilla, after her mother's name Casmilla, with a part changed.
544Carrying her himself before him in the fold of his robe, he was making for the long ridges of lonely woods: cruel weapons pressed on every side and the Volsci flitted around with soldiers spread all about. 547Look, in the midst of his flight the Amasenus foamed, overflowing the tops of its banks, so great a rainstorm had burst from the clouds. 549He, preparing to swim across, is held back by love for the infant and fears for his dear burden. 550As he turned everything over within himself, this decision suddenly, and barely, settled. 552To the huge spear which, warrior that he was, he happened to carry in his strong hand, solid with knots and seasoned oak, to this he binds his daughter, wrapped in bark and woodland cork, and ties her neatly round the middle of the shaft; 556balancing it in his great right hand he speaks thus to the heavens: